The Russellville City Council voted to pay outgoing interim police chief Kyn Wilson $924.25 in severance pay after the city's legal authority said Wilson was entitled to it.

City Attorney Trey Smith said state law does not clarify guidelines related to interim employees, and Wilson was hired with the understanding that he was entitled to full benefits. In his four months as interim chief, Wilson earned approximately $16,000 in salary.

The vote came during Thursday night's City Council meeting after it was discussed at a city personnel committee meeting an hour before. Even with Smith's opinion, the issue narrowly passed.

Aldermen voted 5-2 with Ronnie Tripp and Robert Wiley voting against the expenditure. Alderman Tyrone Williamson abstained. Five votes were needed to pass the funding request.

Aldermen split 4-4 on Wilson's request to pay incoming police chief James Bacon six days of "training pay" so Wilson can personally train Bacon. Mayor Raye Turner then cast the deciding vote, allowing the city to spend $1,246.50 for Bacon at a rate of $25.96 per hour.

Voting for the training expense, Alderman Paul Gray said Bacon needed to be trained by Wilson. Opposing aldermen Wiley and Williamson said training could be provided by police officers already being paid.

Aldermen Rick Harrell, Faye Abernathy and Tripp joined Gray and Turner, while aldermen Cliff Kirchner and Andrea Lea joined Wiley and Williamson against the expense.

Bacon is to begin Sept. 2, although his training will begin today.

Wilson's severance pay is the amount of money Wilson accumulated in vacation time while he was interim chief. Wilson said he did not use any vacation time during his time as police chief.

City policy dictates a temporary employee is not entitled to any fringe benefits, including vacation or severance pay. It defines a temporary employee as "seasonal and part-time employees who have been appointed a specific job lasting for a specific period of time."

Turner said Wilson was not a temporary employee because he was not hired for a specific period of time. Lea disagreed with Turner, and a series of verbal volleys began between the two.

Lea contended Wilson was hired for "a specific period of time" because he was to serve as police chief until Turner hired a police chief. He replaced Ron Stobaugh, who resigned April 30.

"Would you agree with me that he was hired for a specific period of time?" Lea asked Turner.

"No ma'am, I wouldn't," the mayor responded.

Turner said Wilson wasn't hired for a specific period of time because his appointment didn't include a specific number of days or weeks and a specific end date. He was hired for an open-ended amount of time until Stobaugh's replacement was selected.

Lea then asked Wilson if he knew he would just work for a temporary amount of time. Yes, Wilson responded, "But I had no idea when that would be.

"If the council doesn't want to pay me for the time I've accrued, that's fine," he continued. "But I think I'm entitled to it."

Smith said Wilson didn't qualify as a temporary employee because he was neither seasonal nor part-time, making the disagreement surrounding the "specific period of time" moot.

Lea also suggested changing the city's personnel policy to require a second in command at the fire and police departments serve as interim chief in the future to save the city expense of hiring an outside employee as interim chief. Turner said such an action would be illegal because the mayor, as the CEO of the city, is the only one who can hire interim chiefs.

"If you want that authority, you can run for mayor," Turner told Lea.

In other business, the council:

Received a report from the city's Revenue Task Force. The report suggested the city consider alcohol sales inside city limits, along with other revenue-producing ideas. More information concerning the report will be Saturday's Courier.

Passed an ordinance changing the fee charged to people who drop off animals at the Russellville Animal Shelter. People who live in Russellville will be charged a $5 fee, people who live outside Russellville in Pope County will be charged a $10 fee, and people who live outside of Pope County will be charged a $15 fee for dropping off animals.

Set Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. to conduct a public tour of Russellville City Hall. Council members are considering their options concerning the old building, as some have suggested either renovating the building or building a new facility. Plans are in preliminary stages, however.

Approved a resolution to put City Clerk Kathy Collins under the APERS retirement system.

Acknowledged a directive to the Planning Commission for study of an amendment to the city's Land Subdivision and Development Code that would require underground wiring in new subdivisions.

Authorized Turner to submit an application for grant funds to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for trails.